Sports log: Boogaards suing for wrongful death

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The family of former enforcer Derek Boogaard filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the NHL, blaming the league for brain damage he suffered and for his addiction to prescription painkillers. Boogaard died of an accidental overdose of pain medication and alcohol two years ago; his body was found on May 13, 2011. The 28-year-old was posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain ailment that can be caused by repeated blows to the head, according to the 55-page lawsuit filed in Cook County (Ill.) Circuit Court late Friday. An attorney who filed the lawsuit, William Gibbs, said Monday the NHL profited from Boogaard’s abilities as team doctors dispensed ‘‘pain pills like candy’’ after he suffered repeated injuries. Boogaard scored only three goals in his six-season career in 277 regular-season games, but took part in at least 66 on-ice fights. In the 2008-09 season with Minnesota, he received 1,021 prescriptions from team physicians, dentists, trainers, and staff, the lawsuit says . . . Veteran NHL coach Mike Keenan signed a two-year contract with Russian club Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Keenan, who amassed more than 600 wins over 25 years and won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994, last coached for Calgary from 2007-09 . . . Marc Bergevin of the Canadiens, Bob Murray of the Ducks, and Ray Shero of the Penguins were all named as first-time finalists to be the NHL’s general manager of the year . . . Steven Stamkos scored two goals and Canada rallied for a 4-3 overtime win over Slovenia at the world championships in Helsinki. Also, Russia defeated Austria, 8-4, behind a goal and two assists from Ilya Kovalchuk. The results relegate Austria and Slovenia to the second tier of the worlds. They will be replaced by Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

BASKETBALL

Celtics’ Bradley on All-Defensive team

LeBron James and Tony Allen highlighted the NBA’s All-Defensive first team, while Celtics guard Avery Bradley landed on the second team. Bradley trailed guards Allen and the Clippers’ Chris Paul. Two centers tied for a spot on the first team: Chicago’s Joakim Noah and New York’s Tyson Chandler. Meanwhile, Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol was relegated to the second team . . . The Bucks are giving serious consideration to hiring 71-year-old Jerry Sloan as coach, according to a report by USA Today. Sloan coached 23 seasons with Utah before abruptly resigning in 2011 . . . Grizzlies assistant Barry Hecker is gone from the team during the Western Conference semifinals for what coach Lionel Hollins said is a ‘‘personal matter.’’

BASEBALL

Rizzo, Cubs agree on long-term deal

Slugging first baseman Anthony Rizzo and the Cubs agreed to a $41 million, seven-year contract that could be worth $68 million over nine seasons. The 23-year-old is hitting .280 nine home runs and 28 RBIs in his third season. Rizzo was traded from the Red Sox to San Diego in December 2010 in the Adrian Gonzalez deal . . . Zack Greinke will pitch on Wednesday, but the Dodgers don’t know if it’ll be for the major league team against Washington or for their Single A team. Greinke has been on the disabled list since April 12, the day after he broke his clavicle in a fight with Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin . . . Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson was put on the 15-day DL because of a pulled hamstring, retroactive to Sunday . . . George Postolos resigned as president and CEO of the Astros, returning to sports consulting work in the midst of the team’s third consecutive season of struggles.

MISCELLANY

Marshals deny giving Woods the OK

Two course marshals at TPC Sawgrass denied Tiger Woods’s claim that they gave him the OK to start to play his shot, according to a report by Sports Illustrated. Woods said he was told Sergio Garcia had already hit before pulling his club and eliciting a response from the crowd that bothered Garcia and set off a war of words between the two. “Nothing was said to us and we certainly said nothing to [Woods],” chief marshal John North said. “He was saying what was good for him. It lacked character.” . . . Manchester City fired manager Roberto Mancini exactly a year after he delivered the club’s first English league title in 44 years. The Italian paid the price for a season without a trophy . . . The English FA is due to vote this week to introduce minimum five-game bans for racial abuse . . . Venus Williams lost in the first round of the Italian Open to 19-year-old Laura Robson, 6-3, 6-2. Robson, who last week upset Agnieszka Radwanska at the Madrid Open, will play Serena Williams in the second round.

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